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Chief Constable Colin Port takes new crime commissioner to court

THE chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police, Colin Port, who is due to retire on January 26, is taking legal action to block the appointment of his successor.

Ch Cons Port wants six months' notice and an injunction blocking the interview process for a new chief constable.

Following the election of Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens in November, Ch Cons Port was asked to re-apply for his own job. He refused to do so and announced he would be stepping down when his contract ended.

In a statement, a spokesman for Ms Mountstevens said: “After publicly announcing on November 22 that he intended to retire at the end of his fixed-term appointment on January 26, we were surprised to receive a legal letter from Chief Constable Colin Port requesting six months' notice and an injunction blocking the interview process for a new chief.

"As legal proceedings are active there is nothing further we can add at this time."

The case is due to come before Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart at the Royal Courts of Justice on today (January 8).

A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said: "There are judicial proceedings ongoing by the chief constable against the police and crime commissioner and therefore, because those proceedings are active it would not be appropriate for us to comment."